Essex Institute

The Essex Institute was formed in 1848 by the union of the Essex Historical Society and the Essex County Natural History Society. The massive brick and brownstone edifice at 132 Essex Street was its headquarters. It was the oldest, largest and best-known privately endowed regional historical society in the United States.

In the late 1860s, the Essex Institute refined its mission to the collection and presentation of regional art, history and architecture. In so doing, it transferred its natural history and archaeology collections to the East India Marine Society’s descendent organization, the Peabody Academy of Science (the “Peabody”). In turn, the Peabody, renamed for its great benefactor, the philanthropist George Peabody, transferred its historical collections to the Essex. The main building, Plummer Hall, was built in 1856. The architect was Enoch Fuller.